According to the Mayo Clinic, frozen shoulder is a condition otherwise known as adhesive capsulitis. The condition centers in the shoulder joint and is accompanied by severe pain and stiffness.
There are three stages of frozen shoulder. The painful stage, frozen stage and thawing stage. Painful stage is when any movement cannot take place without substantial pain. In the frozen stage, the shoulder stiffens, pain lessens and mobility greatly decreases causing a “frozen” affect. During the thawing stage, shoulder mobility begins to return. Restriction of movement occurs when the connective tissue surrounding the ligaments, tendons and bones of the shoulder thicken and tighten around the shoulder joint causing restriction of movement.
Risk factors of frozen shoulder may include:
- Age (most commonly occurring in women)
- Sex (those more than 40 years of age)
- Decreased or loss of shoulder movement due to prior condition such as rotator cuff injury broken arm or stroke
- Predisposition of disease such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, cardiovascular disease, tuberculosis or Parkinson’s disease
Acupuncture treatments provide a safe, natural way to alleviate frozen shoulder. The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) sees the human body as an integrated being. It works with vital energies inherent within all living things to promote the body’s ability to heal itself. Qi (pronounced “chee”) is a vital energy that flows through meridians, pathways that run throughout the entire body. Qi protects the body from illness and provides nourishment to cells, tissues, muscles and organs. During acupuncture treatments, fine, sterile needles are inserted at specific acu-points along these meridians to release Qi, unblock obstructions and correct imbalance.
Acupuncture To Help Shoulder Pain:
- Clear nerves compression/pinched nerves
- Increase blood circulation to an injured area
- Relax the stiffened muscles
- Reduce inflammation
- Promote tissues healing
- Provide natural pain relief
- Improve range of movement
Acupuncture practitioners recommend a holistic health approach inclusive of herbal remedies, massage and stretching. According to Eastern holistic medicine, treatment of frozen shoulder requires lifestyle changes with overall health as its goal.
- Exercise increases flexibility, maintains weight and strengthens muscles
- Diets including anti-inflammatories, unprocessed and organic foods
- Stress reduction through breath, meditation and yoga
- Achieving a balance of rest and relaxation
